"He Craved the Body of Jesus…"
on the Passion History Part VII
St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, UAC
Holy Saturday
March 22, 2008
by the Rev. Frederick E. Davison, Pastor
+ + +
Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father and + Jesus Christ our
Lord. *[Amen.]*
Our meditation is upon the Gospel of Christ's Passion, Part VII: "Jesus'
Burial,"
and in particular, these words:
"*There came a man named Joseph . . . a disciple of Jesus *
* [who].
. . craved the body of Jesus. . ."*
Thus far our text. Please be seated.
In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Ghost. *[Amen.]
*
Indeed with a perfect selection of expression, the Holy Ghost affixes our
eyes as they ought ever be, on Jesus Christ, our Lord, and particularly, our
Lord Christ—who in our observance, whose Body lie in state, wherein we must
wait, His "He is risen!-Word of fate, so we may then be seated, to keep the
Feast He hath completed, Allelujah, Chorus again restored, for Here He
comes, our Resurrection Lord!
But tonight, we, do yet wait, and dare I say it again, "crave the Body of
Jesus" with many Saints here and abroad.
Joseph of Arimethea, bears witness, far from myth, or the expression of some
imagined universal hope within all men to love and serve something or
someone. Joseph, begs the Body of Jesus, for His Passion was real, and he
who bears record bears witness that these things are true, as He is true who
hath brought all things to their remembrances. And Christ our Lord is too!
Would there be some piece of cloth, some holy relic, some buried treasure
that would be universally accepted? Yet, He who knows the hearts of many,
who knows truly all things bears witness, that even if One would rise from
the dead, those whose works are evil will never believe. They have gone
from us for they were not ever *of* us. They remain in the dark so their
deeds might not be exposed. And that saddens us all.
Sad, most sad, more than all that, is there is no need, for even *those*
deeds were placed in the ground and are on this night if not all, they're
buried alongside the sting of sin, which is death.
Yet our hearts, still, are saddened. Well, think then of the first
disciples, all of them, equally guilty—all alike have been before God guilty
of leaving Him. No one could point to another, "Thou art more guilty than
me." So too, you and I, we are no better than those who again this year have
elected to not be with us. So let us pray for them and us, for we are all
heard hearted and very mischievous people. Yet our Lord God hath buried
with Himself, them all. So, craving the Body of Jesus, let us if it be only
for a single moment, let us, remember, He said, "Father forgive them." That
forgive them is for us all. For you, and me, and all our families—yes even
those who would harm and hurt us. That Word forgave those who drove the
spikes, who pressed in thorns, who smote his face, spitted, and shamefully
derailed. . . cannot you see how there is nothing, no sin too horrific, no
evil to debase, no thing beyond His holy cleansing, Father forgive them,
forgives them all.
So, go home. Be still, not raucous, ponder His mercy, His grace, His holy
loving Face, for He once turned to Peter—and forgave Him, tonight He turns
to you. Believe it for His holy Passion' indeed, for Jesus' sake. . .
We yet crave the Body Jesus, the Feast comes in not yet one full day.
Now the peace beyond all understanding, keep your heart, mind, and body
safe, *[Amen.] *
--
the Rev. Frederick E Davison, Pastor
St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church--UAC
the Pastor's E Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
the Pastor's Cell: 608-475-0860
Box 230 23357 CR AA
Richland Center, WI 53581
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"For the question is not (to borrow words from Cyprian) what someone before
us has done but what He who is before all both did before and commanded us
to do." Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, vol. II, p.
250.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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